Designates April 11 of each year as "Black Doula Day."

SJR101

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 101

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates April 11 of each year as �Black Doula
Day.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating April 11 of each
year as �Black Doula Day� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional,
and informational support to a mother before, during, and after labor and
childbirth, to help her to achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience
possible; and

Whereas,

There are over 14,000 certified doulas across all 50 states and in over 50
countries globally; and

Whereas,

Research has found that doulas reduce cesarean section frequency, help to
prevent low birth weight and premature labor, decrease epidural use, and,
overall, produce better outcomes for birthing mothers and their children; and

Whereas,

Hospitals and birthing centers in New Jersey are required to maintain policies
that allow doulas to accompany patients before, during, and after labor and
childbirth; and

Whereas,

New Jersey is the third state to cover doula care through Medicaid and the
first to require doulas to be community-trained, ensuring culturally competent
care, to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement; and

Whereas,

New Jersey ranks 25th in maternal mortality at 26.0 deaths per 100,000� live
births in the United States, with a rate that is above the national average of
23.2 deaths per 100,000 live births according to the most recently available
data; and

Whereas,

A Black mother in New Jersey is more than seven times more likely than a white
mother to die from maternity-related complications, and a Black baby is over
three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first
birthday; and

Whereas,

Since 2024, Global Black Doula Day has taken place annually on April 11 to
protect, push, and uplift the Black doula profession and ensure sustainability
in Black maternal health efforts; and

Whereas,

It is altogether fitting and proper, and within the public interest, to
designate April 11 of each year as �Black Doula Day� in New Jersey; now,
therefore,

����
Be It Resolved

by the Senate and General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:

���� 1.� April 11 of each year
shall be designated as �Black Doula Day� in New Jersey.

���� 2.� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing April 11 of
each year as �Black Doula Day� in New Jersey.

���� 3.� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates April 11 of each year as �Black Doula Day� in New Jersey to coincide
with Global Black Doula Day.� Doulas are professionals who provide continuous
physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during, and
after childbirth.� Doula care is expanding field found across all 50 states and
50 countries globally.� Doula care can improve birth-related outcomes including
lowering the rate of cesarean sections, low birth weights and premature labor,
and decrease epidural use.� New Jersey was the 3
rd
state to cover
doula care under Medicaid, however ranks 25th in maternal mortality with Black
mothers being more than seven times more likely to die from maternity-related
complications than white mothers.